NHK WORLD-Japan programme focus for November: Hokkaido

1 November 2024

NHK WORLD-Japan programme focus for November: Hokkaido

Hokkaido: Finding warmth in Japan’s northern wonderland

Hit the Road: Hokkaido Nov 13 Wed. 1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC) Take a scenic drive through Eastern Hokkaido and discover two milks: creamy cow’s milk from the land and fresh oysters, known as “milk of the sea.”
Remote Onsen: Hokkaido in Summer Nov 2 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Hokkaido summers are short, but you can soak in hot springs hidden in the wild, marvel at the views from onsen in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit an area with an abundant variety of waters.
Journeys in Japan – Sapporo: Ski Mountaineering Tradition Nov 12 Tue. 0:30/5:30/10:30/15:30/21:30 (UTC) In Hokkaido Prefecture, the sport of ski mountaineering has a long history. Making your way up into the mountains is possible when you have skis. Climbing through the deep snow requires skill, experience and thorough preparation. But the ascent is fun and heading down is even more so. In Japan, the first place where ski mountaineering began was the Academic Alpine Club of Hokkaido, which is part of Hokkaido University. The students here have been skiing for over 100 years. Cveto Podlogar is a licensed international mountain guide from Slovenia. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Cveto heads out into the mountains with the Alpine Club for a training session, to get a taste of their ski mountaineering tradition.

UK budget increases BBC World Service funding

30 October 2024

UK budget increases BBC World Service funding

In the first budget of the newly elected Labour government in the UK, additional funding has been allocated to BBC World Service. The organisation has been setting out its case to government to demonstrate its need for increased financing to meet the challenges posed by the threat of hostile nations’ international media operations and an increasingly troubled world.

The budget statement said: “In 2025-26, the settlement provides an increase in funding to the BBC World Service, protecting existing foreign language service provision and its mission to deliver globally trusted media, in support of the UK’s global presence and soft power.”

A statement issued by the BBC this afternoon says: “We warmly welcome the announcement of enhanced funding. We are pleased the government has acknowledged the strong case for investing in the World Service. As the world’s most trusted broadcaster, we are in a unique position to lead the global news and information market.

“Today’s announcement will enable us to maintain all of our existing language services, to continue fighting disinformation around the world, and also to provide emergency information services to those in crisis, as we have recently done in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.

“However, despite today’s announcement, the BBC World Service is not immune to the immense pressures facing the rest of the BBC – freezes to the BBC licence fee, materially significant global inflation, and the need to make investments for tech and digital upkeep.

“Given this, we will need to work through the details of the funding, and we will say more in due course about any changes and savings we need to make to stay competitive in the face of those continuing pressures.”

BBC World Service English announces new rebroadcasting partnership in The Bahamas

24 October 2024

BBC World Service English announces new rebroadcasting partnership in The Bahamas

Guardian Media Group will rebroadcast BBC World Service English radio in The Bahamas

BBC World Service English has partnered with the Guardian Media Group to bring our factual programming, impartial news reports and analysis to audiences in The Bahamas.

Guardian Media Group is the leading local multimedia group in The Bahamas.

BBC World Service English radio will be received digitally, and broadcast live on Guardian Radio FM 96.9 when not in local programming.

Fred Durman, BBC’s Head of Business Development for the Americas and Europe, says: “The BBC is delighted to strengthen its presence in The Bahamas through this dynamic rebroadcasting partnership with Guardian Media Group. This collaboration underscores our dedication to informing, educating, and entertaining audiences worldwide.

“By delivering trusted news, insightful storytelling, and a rich array of diverse programming, we aim to foster deeper connections and promote shared understanding across communities. This initiative not only extends our global reach but also ensures that Bahamian residents have access to high-quality journalism and content that reflects a variety of voices and perspectives from around the world.”

Dwight Strachan, Guardian Radio Station Manager, says: “Guardian Radio – The Bahamas’ number one source for talk and radio news – is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with the legendary BBC World Service. We will offer BBC programming to our listeners when we’ve completed our regular programming overnight and on Sunday.

“This will further demonstrate to our listeners our commitment to providing credible news from all over the globe, and from one of the world’s most trusted news sources. Without a doubt, Guardian Radio with the BBC World Service will make for round-the-clock-radio – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week”.

[Source: BBC press release]

IBAB Approves Jeffrey Gedmin as President and CEO of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks

23 October 2024

IBAB Approves Jeffrey Gedmin as President and CEO of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks

The International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB) – which provides oversight and strategic guidance to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) – unanimously authorized the board of Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) to name Jeffrey Gedmin as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Gedmin has served as MBN’s Acting President and CEO since April 2024.

“We are elated to pave the way for Jeff’s continued leadership at MBN,” said IBAB Chair Kenneth Jarin. “His vast experience and tremendous wealth of knowledge make clear that he is the right person to lead the networks into a new era. We look forward to continuing to work alongside him every step of the way.”

Gedmin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the IBAB in 2023, where he served before becoming MBN’s Acting President and CEO earlier this year. He was Interim President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) from July to December 2023, and previously served as RFE/RL’s President and CEO for four years.

Gedmin was co-founder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose, and former president/CEO of the London-based Legatum Institute. Prior to leading RFE/RL, he served as president and CEO of the Aspen Institute in Berlin, was a Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and was Executive Director of the New Atlantic Initiative.

Gedmin has authored and edited several books about German and European security, and co-executive produced two major documentaries for PBS.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on several advisory boards, including the Institute for State Effectiveness, the Justice for Journalists Foundation, the Tocqueville Conversations, and the Institute for Current World Affairs. Together with former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Norm Eisen, Gedmin is co-chair of the Transatlantic Democracy Working Group, hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He is currently a Research Council Member at the National Endowment for Democracy, senior fellow at Georgetown University and at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Gedmin earned his M.A. in German Area Studies from American University. He received his Ph.D. from Georgetown University in German Area Studies and Linguistics.

[Source: IBAB press release]

New partnership for ABC in New Caledonia

18 October 2024

New partnership for ABC in New Caledonia

The Australia–New Caledonia Media Partnership has been officially launched following the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and New Caledonian public broadcasters NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV.

This landmark partnership aims to foster greater cross-cultural exchange and strengthen cooperation between Australia and New Caledonia’s public service media organisations. The ABC’s international division has developed the agreements between the ABC, NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV which facilitate content sharing and future content collaborations.

The partnership was commemorated with a reception hosted by Australia’s Consul-General in New Caledonia, Ms. Annelise Young, at the Australian Consulate-General in Nouméa. Senior representatives from NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV, alongside ABC International Services Manager Nesryn Bouziane, attended the event to sign the MOUs and celebrate the new partnership.

As the foundation of the Australia–New Caledonia Media Partnership, these MOUs reflect the ABC’s commitment to closer cooperation with NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV. The partnership will focus on content exchange and sharing, with the ABC providing a range of current affairs, educational, and cultural programs — including The Pacific, ABC Australia’s flagship regional news program, which is now broadcast weekly on NC La 1ère.

The agreements also pave the way for the exchange of digital news and video footage for use in news bulletins and documentaries. This enhanced collaboration will strengthen the coverage of regional news and issues, benefiting the audiences of ABC, NC La 1ère, and Caledonia TV. Additionally, the partnership creates opportunities for future collaborations in regional events, co-productions, and content development.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The Australia–New Caledonia Media Partnership marks an exciting milestone in strengthening our regional ties with fellow broadcasters. We are eager to work closely with NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV to share valuable content and ideas. These MOUs represent a significant step forward in our collaborative efforts, allowing us to expand our programming and deliver even more diverse content to audiences in Australia and across the Pacific.”

Bénédicte Gambey, Regional Director of NC La 1ère, said: “This partnership rekindles the historic ties between public broadcasters ABC and NC La 1ère. We honour our predecessors who made it their mission to bring regional news into Caledonian homes and communities. Today, this partnership strengthens NC La 1ère’s role in informing the public and enriches our programming with content from the Pacific. In a hyper-connected world dominated by social media, where it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between news, rumours, or conspiracy theories, our agreement reaffirms the mutual commitment of media outlets that share the same ethics and respect for our people.”

Pierre Welepa, General Director of Calédonia TV, said: “Since Calédonia was founded 10 years ago, we have strived to be a ‘window to the world,’ particularly to our beautiful Pacific region, while also serving as a ‘mirror’ of Caledonian identity. This historic agreement with ABC allows us to further integrate our region’s cultural diversity and languages into our programming, while partnering with the oldest media outlet in the South Pacific. It is also an opportunity to share more of Caledonia’s authenticity across the Pacific, something the ABC understands and supports as we open up to the world. This new visibility comes at a time when it’s more important than ever to keep our connection to the Pacific alive.”

CNA launches on UK’s Freeview

17 October 2024

CNA launches on UK’s Freeview

Asia-based news and current affairs brand CNA‘s free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel is now available on Freeview 276.

Previously available via Channelbox on channel 271, the move to its own Freeview channel enhances accessibility for a larger audience in the UK.

CNA’s availability on Freeview was facilitated by Global Distribution Services, content aggregation and distribution company, specialising on FAST Freeview distribution and monetisation. The channel is monetised via the cutting edge SSAI and uses the latest CMP from Synapse which is compatible with Freeview, Freely and other DTT platforms.

Positioned to “Understand Asia”, CNA reports on global developments with Asian perspectives and delivers high-quality news and programming including daily news updates from Asia, acclaimed investigative documentary series and history travelogues.

Tanya Kronfli, Global Distribution Service’s founder and director added, “We are thrilled to support CNA in this expansion. Our goal has always been to foster diversity through authentic narratives and firsthand perspectives.”

CNA is hosting a launch event for its UK distribution in London on 21 November, and CNA anchor and journalist Otelli Edwards will be hosting the AIBs 2024 in London on 22 November.